Even if your fibromyalgia fails to meet or equal a listing in the Social Security Administration’s Listing of Impairments, it’s still possible to qualify for Social Security disability benefits if an evaluation of your residual functional capacity (RFC) shows that you’re not able to perform past relevant or other work. Here, New York disability lawyer Herbert Forsmith will explain how you can be eligible for Social Security disability benefits through an evaluation of your RFC.

Your RFC is your ability to perform work-related activities in spite of your impairment. If you’re suffering from a physical impairment, the Social Security Administration will look at whether you’re able to perform heavy, medium, light, or sedentary work. If you’re suffering from a mental impairment, you’ll be evaluated in terms of whether you can still do skilled, semi-skilled, or unskilled work. If you have a very low RFC, then you’re deemed not to be able to do much work.

In evaluating the effect that your fibromyalgia has on your RFC, the Social Security Administration will ask your treating doctor, as well as other medical professionals, to provide information about the degree and duration of your fibromyalgia; their observations and opinions pertaining to your remaining ability to function; the effects and side-effects of treatment; and how long they expect your limited function to last.

The Social Security Administration will also try to gauge how credible your claim of disability is by asking information from other third-parties, including:

Statements from other health care professionals who have treated you; and

Your own statements about your condition that were written down in your diary, notes, or journal.

If your fibromyalgia is severe enough that you can’t work because of it, you might be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits. New York disability lawyer Herbert Forsmith has extensive experience successfully handling Social Security claims. Call today to schedule a free initial evaluation of your case.

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